Last week, Melody Thomas Scott celebrated 45 years since she began portraying the role of Nikki Newman on “The Young and the Restless.” In tribute to her staying power, the show recently had several cast members, specifically of the Newman variety, donning t-shirts featuring all the iconic looks Scott has had from the more than four decades she’s played the character.

In a video message posted to the show’s Instagram account last week, Joshua Morrow, who plays Scott’s on-screen son Nicholas Newman, said, “To my mama, Melody Thomas Scott, celebrating a huge, huge, huge anniversary. An absolute icon on this show. What better way to celebrate you than with these incredible T-shirts, looking at all your best looks. We love you, the whole world loves you, and you deserve everything. Love you, Mama.”

Following Morrow’s message was a photo collage of the Newman family members posing with their Nikki t-shirts, including Morrow himself, Amelia Heinle, Melissa Ordway (Abby), Mark Grossman (Adam), Hayley Erin (Claire), and, of course, the Newman family patriarch, Victor, played by the legendary Eric Braeden (Victor).

Speaking with both Soap Opera Digest and TV Insider about her time on the show, including having to choose between taking on the role on the daytime drama series or moving forward with a pilot she had previously booked, and who at the show helped show her the ropes when it came to getting things done on soaps.

First up: “My stepping into the role of Nikki was a result of an emergency recast [replacing Erica Hope], so the process was fast and furious! When they offered me a three-year contract, I had to make a decision between ‘Y&R’ and a sitcom pilot that I had also been offered the same week. I very much wanted to take the pilot, as I wanted to do comedy,” Scott recalled to TV Insider of her road to Genoa City. “My agent wisely advised me to go with ‘Y&R’ as it offered more stability than a pilot and the rest is history. By the way, the pilot didn’t get picked up! I’ve cherished every moment of my time on ‘Y&R’ and relish any time Nikki’s trials and tribulations allow me to sprinkle in some humor.”

Meanwhile, speaking to Soap Opera Digest, Scott says, “The contract I was offered was for three years. I just assumed that that would be the duration of my time there. When they opted to extend it, I was thrilled. Those first three years had changed my life in such positive ways, I didn’t think twice about agreeing to three more years! And so forth and so on…!” 

As for who helped her during the initial time on the show, she mentions the likes of Roberta Leighton (ex-Casey), Wings Hauser (ex-Greg), and David Hasselhoff (ex-Snapper), among others. “Everyone was so kind to ‘the new kid on the block,’ showing me the ropes of daytime. We were a tight-knit group, even then. I have fond memories of us walking to Dupar’s at Farmers Market for breakfast every morning! Good times!” Scott said of the early days.

While the t-shirt reveal didn’t take place until the day of her anniversary, Scott did have this to say about her Newman co-stars, specifically Braeden, Morrow and Heinle, when asked by TV Insider to comment about working with them: “After working together for so long, we Newmans have a shorthand when working together. The rehearsals and time spent together behind the scenes are so entertaining, we sometimes wish they would tape our rehearsals. We are a family unit on- and off-set and I love having such a special camaraderie with them. Of course, working with Eric has been the highlight for both myself and Nikki. I’m often asked to explain our chemistry, which I can’t; I just know it’s very special and unique and I’m so grateful to have him as my leading man for so many years.”

If there is one thing Scott could say to the fans about their loyalty to the show, she says to Digest, it would be, “There would be no ‘Y&R’ without the fans. They’ve embraced both Nikki and me from the very beginning. It’s quite an honor to be welcomed into the audience’s home for so many years. Thank you for your love and support. It means the world to me. XXXOO.”

Check out the Nikki t-shirts worn by Scott’s co-stars below.

Amelia Heinle

Joshua Morrow

Hayley Erin

Mark Grossman

Melissa Ordway

Eric Braeden

Make sure to catch Melody Thomas Scott and all members of the Newman family as they appear in all-new episodes of “The Young and the Restless,” airing weekdays on CBS.